Haida Heritage Centre at Qay'llnagaay is a project envisioned by community leaders and band members for over 40 years.

Planning and design have been several years in the making - the Haida Heritage Centre is now complete. The Centre will be open for tours this 2007 Summer season.

Honourable mention to our Skidegate Elders and Hereditary Chiefs in the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program, without whose unceasing contribution of Haida translation of our Houses would not have been possible. Haaw'a! (Thank you!)

Skidegate Band Council's initial steps to create a Haida Heritage Centre at Qay'llnagaay include:

• 1993 - Meeting with community and island interest groups to conceptualize the Heritage Centre.
• 1995 - Preparing for fundraising - Qay'llnagaay Heritage Centre Society created.
• Establishing partnerships with Haida Gwaii Musuem Society; Parks Canada; and, educational groups - Bill Reid School of Art; University of Northern BC (UNBC), School District #50, Northwest Community College (NWCC), and Emily Carr School of Art & Design.
• 1998 - Signing an educational Memorandum of Collaboration between several education partners in the development and delivery of educational services.
• Pursuing and implementing funding for the various phases of the Heritage Centre's development. Funding has been obtained mainly from the federal and provincial government, with additional funding from Societies and private sector donations.

• 2000 - Carving into the New Millenium - Pole Project, Phase I: training phase for 12 apprentice carvers under the direction of six Master Carvers; food gathering project for the 2001 Pole Raising potlatch feast; exhibitory trainees - research; bentwood boxes project for ancestral remains.
• June, 2001 - Pole Project, Phase II: Pole raising of six monumental cedar poles at Qay'llnagaay followed by a traditional Haida feast consisting of seafood gathered in Phase I.
• 2003 - Groundbreaking Ceremony: Skidegate village Elders blessed the ground where the Heritage Centre now stands. A feast followed the blessing and groundbreaking ceremony, with attendance by federal and provincial dignitaries, honoured guests, and Skidegate band members.
• 2004 - Beginning of construction: Haida Gwaii Museum expansion; building of six replica Haida cedar longhouses with modern elements of glass in the "Welcome / Greeting House".

• Sawyer Training - training program developed for local Haidas to cut monumental cedar beams and columns made from rare, old growth cedar harvested on Haida Gwaii.

• 2004 - Separate facility Lease Agreements finalized between Gwaalagaa Naay Corporation (GNC) and Haida Gwaii Museum; and, GNC and Parks Canada.
• 2007 - Construction was completed in January 2007. Skidegate will host a celebration for the completion of construction at this year's "Skidegate Days" on July 20th and 21st, 2007.

Skidegate Band Council has maintained their focus on the Hotel / Lodge phase of development for the Haida Heritage Centre at Qay'llnagaay.

Skidegate Band Council is proceeding with capital planning for this segment of the Haida Heritage Centre project. Council envisions the Hotel / Lodge will provide additional economic development and employment sustainability in Skidegate and surrounding communities.